USDA APPOINTS AGRICULTURAL AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE MEMBERS

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2003—Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the members of the recently re-established Agricultural Air Quality Task Force for 2003-2004. The task force is chaired by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and made up of USDA employees, industry representatives and other experts in the fields of agriculture and air quality.

“Conservation of our natural resources, including air quality, is important to our farmers and ranchers,” Veneman said. “I am pleased these individuals have agreed to serve on this task force.”

The Agricultural Air Quality Task Force charter is renewed every two years to address agricultural air quality issues.

The task force will serve as an advisory committee and will operate under the terms of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The role of the task force is to advise the Secretary on issues related to agricultural air quality, including strengthening and coordinating USDA air quality research efforts and identifying cost-effective ways in which the agriculture industry can improve air quality.

Representatives from USDA’s Forest Service, Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service also will participate on the task force.

The first meeting of this task force will be May 20-21, 2003, in Washington, D.C. Additional information is available on the Web at http://fargo.nserl.purdue.edu/faca or by contacting Beth Sauerhaft, NRCS designated federal official (DFO), at 202-720-8578 or e-mail beth.sauerhaft@usda.gov . Additional information on the 2002 Farm Bill can be found at www.usda.gov/farmbill .

2003-2004 USDA AGRICULTURAL AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE

Alabama
Tommy L. Coleman, Alabama A&M University

Arizona
Kevin G. Rogers, Producer

California
Mark P. Boese, San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District
Manuel F. Cunha, Jr., Nisei Farmers League
Robert G. Flocchini, University of California-Davis
Roger Isom, California Cotton Ginners & Growers

Hawaii
Stephanie A. Whalen, Hawaii Agricultural Research Center

Idaho
Dave Roper, Producer
Dar Olberding, Idaho Grain Producers

Illinois
James K. Trotter, Producer

Indiana
Robert N. Jackman, Veterinarian, State Senator
Rita Sharma, Producer

Maryland
Phillip J. Wakelyn, National Cotton Council of America

New York
Douglas Shelmidine, Producer

North Carolina
Viney P. Aneja, North Carolina State University
Garth W. Boyd, Smithfield Foods, Inc
Joseph Rudek, Environmental Defense
Sally L. Shaver, US Environmental Protection Agency

Oklahoma
Annette H. Sharp, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality

Texas
Robert V. Avant, Jr., Texas Food and Fibers Commission
Calvin B. Parnell, Jr., Texas A&M University
John M. Sweeten, Jr., Texas A&M University

Utah
Nan Wankier Bunker, Producer

West Virginia
Timothy Wade Maupin, Cargill Turkey Products

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